Dream Theater

The technically proficient guitar playing of John Petrucci elevated Dream Theater to the upper echelons of contemporary heavy metal. While its lineup has continuously evolved, the Long Island-based quintet has consistently delivered sharp-edged music. Dream Theater is known for its high-energy concert performances. While they've released several live albums -- Live at the Marquee, recorded at the London club; Live in Japan, recorded during the Music in Progress tour in 1993, and a triple-CD and DVD, Live Scenes from New York -- they remain one of heavy metal's most bootlegged bands.

Originally named Majesty by Berklee College of Music students Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy, the band soon expanded with the addition of keyboard player Kevin Moore and vocalist Chris Collins. Releasing an eight-tune demo, Majesty Demo, as Majesty, the group sold 1,000 copies within six months. The departure of Collins in late 1986 left Majesty without a vocalist, and after a long period of auditioning possible replacements, the group settled on Charlie Dominici in November 1987. Changing its name, the group agreed on "Dream Theater," inspired by a now-demolished California movie theater. Signing with Mechanic Records, the group began working on its first full-length album. Delays caused by label mismanagement limited the group to performing at small clubs and bars. Frustrated by its experiences with the label, Dream Theater finally severed its ties with Mechanic.

This was only one drastic change in the band's course of action. Firing Dominici, the group spent the next couple years searching for a vocalist. The search ended in late 1991 when a demo tape from Canadian vocalist James LaBrie, formerly of Winter Rose, arrived. After flying to New York to audition, LaBrie was invited to join the band. Signing with Atco Atlantic (which came to be known as East West), Dream Theater released its second album, Images & Words, in 1992. One of three videos based on songs from the album, "Pull Me Under," became an MTV hit. Although Theater showed considerable growth with their third studio album, Awake, recorded between May and July 1994, the group continued to be hampered by personnel changes. Before the album was mixed, keyboardist Moore left the group to focus on his solo career. Hired as a temporary replacement for the band's Waking Up the World tour, Derek Sherinian later became a permanent member. His first recording with Dream Theater was a 23-minute epic, "A Change of Seasons," written in 1989 and released in September 1995 on the album of the same name.

Following a mini tour, Fix for '96, the members of Dream Theater separated for several months and became involved with a variety of outside projects. Petrucci was the busiest. In addition to joining Portnoy and keyboard player Jordan Rudess in the Liquid Tension Experiment -- a group that included influential bassist/stick player Tony Levin -- Petrucci played guitar with Trent Gardner's Explorers Club and made a guest appearance on Shadow Gallery's Tyranny album. Myung and Sherinian collaborated with King's X vocalist Ty Tabor in the band Platypus. LaBrie worked with Mull Muzzler, a group formed with Matt Guillory and Mike Mangini.

Dream Theater experienced yet another change when Rudess was tapped to replace Sherinian, who had been fired in 1999. The band released the progressive rock-heavy Scenes from a Memory that year, a conceptual piece that followed the story of a 1928 murder of a young woman and how a modern man is haunted by the crime. It was followed by Live Scenes from New York in 2001, which suffered from an unintentional bout with controversy when its original cover featuring the city of New York in flames was pulled due to the events of September 11. The group continued in the progressive metal vein in 2002 with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, followed by the leaner Train of Thought in 2003 and Octavarium in 2005. The live album Score: XOX was released in 2006 and featured the band backed by a 29-piece orchestra. It was followed a year later by the new studio album Systematic Chaos, and in 2009 by Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

Sherinian went on to record as a soloist and to play with a prog and jazz fusion band, Planet X. Petrucci released an eponymously titled solo album in 2003, featuring accompaniment by Dave LaRue of the Dixie Dregs and Boston-based drummer Dave DeCenso. In late 2010, Mike Mangini joined the group, replacing drummer Mike Portnoy, who left the band in September of that year. With a rigorous touring schedule to firmly break in Mangini, Dream Theater somehow found time to record. They pre-released the track "On the Backs of Angels" to YouTube via their label, Roadrunner in June of 2011, followed by the CD release of the aptly titled full-length, A Dramatic Turn of Events, in the fall. After a period of rigorous international touring, the band took a break though its members continued writing. They reconvened in early 2013 and returned with a self-titled studio album in September -- this one with Mangini completely involved in the writing process -- followed in November with the concert recording Live at Luna Park on CD and DVD, which was recorded during the Dramatic Turn of Events tour over two nights at the Buenos Aires soccer stadium. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi

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chad20011

mangini is the better faster and more technical drummer. even though i like portnoy more, mangini is a better drummer. the band is more than a drummer. mangini is a badass drummer and the band didnt depreciate when portnoy left. mangini is the perfect fill in for portnoy's leaving. there isnt conflict between the two drummer either. they are mature and both like each other as drummers and fellow band members of dream theater.

Yes, Mr. Portnoy's departure was sad and ill-timed. His playing was phenomenal and he clearly influenced the DT sound. He also was integral to their writing process, both musically & lyrically. HOWEVER, Mike Mangini is an absolutely STELLAR percussionist who, IMHO, has helped take THE BEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND EVER to the next level. Listen to the self-titled 2013 album. Every track is amazing, from the symphonic opening of False Awakening Suite to the absolutely mind-melting Illumination Theor

Greg...i assume ur talking bout Perfect Strangers, yes its a deep purple song. Its off the Change of seasons album, which is all covers except "Change of seasons". All of the covers are as good as any band couldve done besides original, in some cases. If u havent heard album u should, theyre covers of Zeppelin are worth it!

People need to.realize that these are artist comment pages not song comment pages. When u say "i love this song" without saying what song ur talkin bout....nobody knows what the eff ur talking bout. Dream theater has a huge catalog of music. .....i prefer them with Mike Portnoy,but that my opinion.

8 months ago

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gregorywh9

Doesn't anyone realize this is a Deep Purple song? DT covered it. Check out the original version. Ian Gillian's vocals are great!

Less doom than I thought. The introduction is strong and gets you up for the song. There's definitely a Rush influence once into the song. LaBrie has a great voice. Perfect for this song. He reminds me of John Arch. Both are superb singers. DT is a great band.

Definitely some Sabbath/doom metal influence in the introduction. Very nice.

10 months ago

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efernand5

DT belongs to another level, too talented... I saw them many times, one time with Queensryche and remember the guitar player of them saying...these guys are way too good... Too talented to follow, we certainly are in the precense of an unique band - Enough said...

I love dt a lot they are great and have a wonderful flow to there music and have a wonderful emotion they give in their songs but cobain is great also *sniff sniff* it kinda smells like teen spirit In here

John Petrucci is an amazing guitar player. These guys are awesome. Kind of suffered from all that alternative crap(Cobain) that came out. Should have been bigger. Mike Portnoy. Is a beast on the skins.

Most amazing band ever. In and out of the studio. I have seen them 4 times before. I got to see Labrie with Mangini and others when he came out with his most recent solo album. Their guitarist put his pick in my hand WE WERE AT THE STAGE! and some woman next to me smacked it out of my hand :( arg.